The article emphasised that learning improves when we have the time to reflect because we are often to busy to stop, stand back, look, listen and think.
Plans and decisions in schools need mutual agreement among the stakeholders. School staff need to be enthusiastic, the atmosphere happy and welcoming. Participants may be more enthusiastic when they are part of the decision making process and part of the planning of organisational systems. I would have to agree with this statement regarding participants need to feel a part of the decision making process. Prior to the departure of our school principal on June 30, he mostly made decisions regarding the school's direction between himself and the business manager with little (and sometimes no regard for the input from staff). The prime example is the recent Federal Government's stimulus package for building school libraries. A decision was made by himself and the business manager that an application would be made for a new primary 'library'. However, in actual fact this primary (Years 4-6) library will in fact just be another computer lab for the school and not built as intended - a library. :( The ex-Principal's decisions certainly upset staff, as there was no consultation with staff, even the library staff.
Quality Teaching and Learning relates directly to leadership and is important to schools. The readings on Quality Learning were interesting and informative, particularly the website qla.com.au and Reading 2 of the module (Streeton Primary School 2000). The website http://www.qla.com.au/ defines Quality Learning as an 'approach to improving learning and the quality of school life. It provides simple tools, methods and concepts to make classrooms and schools more efficient and effective.' The website states that Quality Learning was founded in the theories of Dr Edwards Deming and others. Deming summarised the Quality Learning approach into 4 areas that he called Profound Knowledge. These are as follows:
- systems: seeks clarity of purpose; establishes visions of excellence; focusing on clients and seeing all work as processes
- knowledge: using structured improvement tools and methods, planning for improvement
- variation: using data to drive improvement, understanding system and process variation
- people: removing barriers to intrinsic motivation, encouraging leadership at all levels, teamwork and cooperation
The website also highlights points out the positive effects of the quality learning approach in schools. Students benefit through:
* increased responsibility for their learning
* improved learning outcomes
* greater engagement
* increased levels of cooperation and trust
* better relationships with teachers and peers
Teachers experience:
* improved teamwork with peers, leaders and students
* renewed enthusiasm for teaching
* reduced stressed
* better relationships with students
Through quality learning principals report:
* greater collaboration and cooperation
* improvement throughout the school
* renewed sense of purpose with stronger goal alignment
* increased parental support
* improved leadership capacity across the school
* calm, focused and productive environment
Parents comment on:
* greater confidence in the school
* improved relationships with teachers and school leaders
* increased satisfaction in their child's learning
12 Principles have been devised. These are: Systems, Purpose, Processes, Clients, Stakeholders, Planning, Learning, Data, Variation, Motivation, Change & Leadership.
I really like Principle 7 - whereby participants work in the system, but in order to have quality they must work on the system in order to improve it. How true! By effectively using data - the data must be analysed and interpreted - can lead to the identification of areas that need improvement. For example, in the school library as a result of stocktaking and collection evaluation, areas of that need resourcing can be more easily identified. School leaders need demonstrate their actions, and not just talk about what they want to achieve. Modelling the school's mission and values helps to ensure that the school's culture of excellence is maintained.
Overall, communication, teamwork and continual learning can help to improve the operational structure and management of schools. Quality Learning is very relevant in relation to the leadership role of teacher librarians. It is quite easy to use many of the 12 principles of Quality Learning in the library both with students and other staff. I feel it is part of the role of a Teacher Librarian to use this approach to teach students and other teachers different ways of teaching and learning using a variety of resources.
References:
Streeton Primary School (2000). The 12 quality principles in Q is for Quality, G Askew (ed.), Streeton Primary School, Yallambie, Vic., pp. 12-24.
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